LA Galaxy acquire forward Chandler Hoffman

CARSON, Calif. (Friday, Match 1, 2013) – The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has acquired Generation adidas forward Chandler Hoffman from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. A second-year forward who starred at UCLA from 2009-11, Hoffman trained with the Galaxy during the summer of 2010 ahead of the start of his sophomore year. He is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles later tonight and will train with the club for the first time on Saturday.

Hoffman, who will wear the No. 30 shirt, joins the Galaxy after being selected by the Union in the first round (13th overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Hoffman appeared in seven games during his rookie season with Philadelphia, making two starts, including in a home game against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 31, 2012 when he made his MLS debut. In addition, Hoffman appeared in nine Reserve League games for the Union, scoring five times, including a club record four goals in a 6-0 win over D.C. United on October 9. He also scored the game-winning goal for Philadelphia in a 2-1 win over German-club Schalke 04 on May 9 at PPL Park.

The 22-year-old was a three-year star at UCLA, averaging better than a goal every two games during his career with the Bruins. In his final season at UCLA, Hoffman led the Pac-12 and finished fourth in the nation with 18 goals while also adding six assists to lead his team to the NCAA College Cup Semifinals. The 18 goals were the most by a UCLA player since 1991 and the most in Pac-12 history, helping him earn first team All-Pac-12 honors as well as a first-team All-American honors from Soccer America and third-team All-American and first-team All-Far West Region honors from the NSCAA. The Bruins never failed to reach at least the NCAA Quarterfinals in Hoffman’s three years in Westwood, finishing his career with 29 goals and nine assists in 54 games before accepting a Generation adidas contract ahead of the 2012 SuperDraft. He is now the fourth different former UCLA player on the Galaxy roster, joining Brian Perk, Brian Rowe and Michael Stephens, all of who played alongside Hoffman under Jorge Salcedo.

Very excited/thankful for the opportunity to return to LA and join the @lagalaxy can't wait to get to work. Big thanks to @richardmotzkin